Human Evolution 101

One of the more popular scientific theories regarding human evolution is that we diverged from the apes seven million to thirteen million years ago and began a separate evolutionary development of DNA into what we now know as Homo sapiens. Evidence for this theory varies as to when certain critical events occured, such as the first use of fire, making of tools, etc. Evolution continues today, with many researchers still looking for the “missing link” to definitively tie man to apes.

Other theories as to the origins of humankind have a more celestial theme. Erich von Däniken wrote the classic “Chariots of the Gods” in 1968, introducing archeological evidence pointing to extraterrestrials building complex civilizations and either genetically engineering humans or directly procreating through intermingling with the human-like beings they discovered. This theory also became the focus of the life work by Zecharia Sitchin.

Dr. Ellis Silver, an environmentalist and ecologist, wrote “Humans are not from Earth: A Scientific Evaluation of the Evidence.” In this book he presents archeological and ecological evidence for humans coming from an another planet. He believes we are descendants of an alien race who fled to earth to escape cataclismic events on their own planet.

Interestingly, these theories based on archeological evidence parallel events described in the sacred texts of the major religions.

As we continue to discover more information about our origins, our understanding of who we are is evolving.